October 30th, 2015 – Vinitaly International is taking part in the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair: with more than 1,000 square meters of exhibition space, 137 exhibitors and more than 800 bottles uncorked for tastings. From November 5-7, the Convention and Exhibition Centre of Hong Kong sees Vinitaly International participate for the sixth consecutive year in the most important exhibition dedicated to the wine & spirits industry in the Asian region, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. “The presence of a large number of exhibitors gathered under the Vinitaly brand is a very positive sign of continuity with past editions, which can be read as a strong momentum for Italian wine producers toward as more coordinated action for promotion in the Chinese market,” commented Giovanni Mantovani, Director General of VeronaFiere. Hong Kong remains a strategic market for Italian wine, for two reasons: first, it acts as a fast track for Italian producers exporting to the Chinese mainland; but it also holds great potential for internal growth, as it represents an important outlet for Italian labels. Wine imports in Hong Kong recorded last year a 5.1% increase, for a total value of €984 million. In particular, the Italian wine share in 2014 amounted to 1.5% of total imports; but the trend seems to be positive, according to data for the period between January and July 2015. These data confirm that Italy has both the numbers and the variety in production to win the attention of Hong Kong consumers, as long they’re equipped with the tools to navigate and appreciate the vast and varied Italian wine scene. (Red)